robc22
08-13-2011, 01:53 AM
So......it's the early eighties around the middle of may and I have finished high school and I am awaiting graduation. I got me a hot summer job as a mate on a 44' ocean but the boat isn't due to be delivered until July 1. I'm kicking around and doing a little commercial shell fishing when I run into Lisa Gibbs. Lisa was a couple of grades behind me and more of a friend to my younger brother than me. She was also Stan Gibbs granddaughter. She mentioned to me that her father John needed help with the family business. John had taken the business over from Stan so Stan could spend more time caring for his sick wife. As a young man who loved to fish I jumped at the chance to work at Gibbs lures.
John was a great guy to work for. He taught me much about making wooden plugs and the absolute art that goes into painting them. Back then the striper fishing was not so hot and a lot of the guys got into the long distance casting. Ron Arra was selling these English rods called zziplex's and boy could they cast. John and I would take extra long lunch breaks and head over to freight house lane and practice our casting. The brother's Andy and Al taught me how to throw a 5 oz sinker 650+ feet. They also taught me how to worm fish. They were great guys. John had a fun side to him. He loved to play boche. He took me to a boche club in Plymouth one night. He got me so drunk I couldn't work the next day.Needless to say he won all the boche matches that night.
I only worked for the Gibbs for seven weeks that spring but I had some of the best experiences a young man could have and yes please forgive my arrogance but I learned how to fish a plug from an expert.
So......I check my mail today. There is a package from my good friend Chuck( shark Lobster). Chuck is an aspiring plug maker and a good one to boot. I think if chuck keeps at it his plugs will become very popular. When I opened that box this morning and saw those plugs it made me think of my time with the Gibbs. Chuck, thank you so much for the plugs and the little stroll down memory lane that they gave me.......:)
John was a great guy to work for. He taught me much about making wooden plugs and the absolute art that goes into painting them. Back then the striper fishing was not so hot and a lot of the guys got into the long distance casting. Ron Arra was selling these English rods called zziplex's and boy could they cast. John and I would take extra long lunch breaks and head over to freight house lane and practice our casting. The brother's Andy and Al taught me how to throw a 5 oz sinker 650+ feet. They also taught me how to worm fish. They were great guys. John had a fun side to him. He loved to play boche. He took me to a boche club in Plymouth one night. He got me so drunk I couldn't work the next day.Needless to say he won all the boche matches that night.
I only worked for the Gibbs for seven weeks that spring but I had some of the best experiences a young man could have and yes please forgive my arrogance but I learned how to fish a plug from an expert.
So......I check my mail today. There is a package from my good friend Chuck( shark Lobster). Chuck is an aspiring plug maker and a good one to boot. I think if chuck keeps at it his plugs will become very popular. When I opened that box this morning and saw those plugs it made me think of my time with the Gibbs. Chuck, thank you so much for the plugs and the little stroll down memory lane that they gave me.......:)